DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- THE EVIL EYE OF JEALOUSY
"So the women sang as they danced, and said, 'Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.' Then Saul was very angry, and the saying displeased him, and he said 'They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed only thousands. Now what more can he have but the kingdom?' So Saul eyed David from that day forward." (I Samuel 18:7-9)
What a glorious day of rejoicing. The Israelite army had just won a victorious battle with the Philistines after David's bold God-inspired defeat of the giant Goliath. As they marched through the city, the women came out to greet them as King Saul led the parade. But listen! They were shouting their praise of both King Saul and David. But they were ascribing more praise to David than to King Saul. This really got under Saul's skin, and that old evil green eye of jealousy arose. From that day on, Saul eyed David – that is, he viewed David with suspicion. He could not tolerate what he viewed as competition – that someone else might receive more praise than himself.
It is a trap we all need to keep an open eye for. We covet our position and don't want anyone taking our place. We view another person's success as a threat to our own status. I remember conflict in a church when a woman who had played the piano for umpteen-odd years was jealous when a younger player was given opportunity to develop her gift. She did not want to give up her position and status to anyone else, and she let everyone know it.
May God give us a spirit of rejoicing when another person is praised instead of becoming jealous. Jealousy for our own position will produce nothing but bad. Rejoicing for another person's success will produce nothing but good.
The Lord Jesus is our supreme example. The second person of the Trinity gave up His position in heaven, humbled Himself to become human and went to a rugged cross so that we might be exalted to be children of God. What grace. What love.
Love, Dad
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